Tenmile Region

While Dillon Reservoir is the centerpiece of Summit County's paddleboard waters, there are more great places both downvalley (north) and upvalley (south).  This post features a few additional SUP opportunities in the Tenmile Creek area south of Frisco and Upper Blue River area south of Breckenridge.  

Clinton Gulch; Tenmile Range beyond

Two of these places--Officer's Gulch Pond and Clinton Gulch Reservoir--are ridiculously close to major highways.  A third--Lower Crystal Lake--can only be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicle or by foot.  These places might not have the all the attributes to top the favorites list, but they're all worthwhile considerations for paddleboarding excursions in Summit County.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    (Officers / Clinton / Crystal)    

    

    Scenery: 4 / 3 / 3
    Shoreline Interest: 3 / 1 / 1
    Use: Mod / Mod / Low
    Fee: None
    Access: Paved / Paved / Mod 4WD
    Full elev = 9450 / 11080 / 11980
 

    Weather:

    Officer's

    Clinton

    Crystal

Officer's Gulch Pond

Officer's Gulch Pond is a hidden gem that is also conveniently accessible.  It even has its own exit (198) on Interstate 70.  Yet only a small fraction of the travelers who have zoomed past this spot have stopped to explore what's there.  Even with the interstate winding through, Tenmile Canyon is an impressive and scenic landform.  Fortunately, this remnant recreation site from the pre-interstate era helps showcase the canyon more as a topographic feature than a travel corridor.  Officer's Gulch pond is not large, but it has a disproportionately high number of islands and coves in location that is quite scenic once the highway is out of view.  The pond is small and reasonably protected, so it can be a good alternative when Dillon is too windy to comfortably paddle.  

Officer's Gulch Pond on a smoky day

Clinton Gulch Reservoir

Clinton Gulch Reservoir resides in a stunningly unattractive part of Colorado's high country.  Despite this, the proper conditions and a full reservoir can make this place quite instagrammable--as long as all your selfies point toward the south.  It also makes for a convenient paddle after a hike up neighboring Mayflower Gulch.  Clinton Reservoir is squeezed between the rugged heights of the Tenmile Range and the massive extraction operation that is Climax Mine.  It is located about 7 miles south of Copper Mountain on Highway 91.  The reservoir is impossible to miss since the road runs right across the dam embankment.  The shore can be accessed from parking areas on either end of the dam; use caution around the recreation turnouts on this highly-traveled segment of road.  Water temperatures are cold, so wear a PFD.  

Clinton Gulch Reservoir

Lower Crystal Lake

A four-wheel drive vehicle opens up another alpine paddleboarding opportunity at Lower Crystal Lake.  Unlike Clinton or Officer's Gulch, there is no neighboring highway and it's much easier to feel removed from civilization.  Lower Crystal Lake is cradled in a mountain cirque between Peak 10 and Mt. Helen.  Perched above the local treeline, its mellow shores are surrounded by grass and alpine willows.  While the lake itself is relatively featureless, it occupies a unique location overlooking the Blue River Valley and guarded by the rocky ridgelines of the neighboring peaks.  

The 4WD route to Lower Crystal Lake follows the Spruce Creek Road about 2.5 south of the Main Street / Park Avenue traffic light in Breckenridge.  Spruce Creek Road meanders 1.8 miles  west through a neighborhood toward the very popular Spruce Creek Trailhead in the National Forest.  Another 0.2 miles beyond the trailhead parking area, the 4WD Crystal Lake Road (FR 803.1) forks right and continues 2 miles to Lower Crystal Lake.  USFS has produced a helpful map of this area.  Francie's Cabin of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association is located just east of Lower Crystal Lake and offers a unique way to experience this area with a larger group.  Dispersed camping sites can also be found before the lake.  A camp or cabin stay here allows even more adventures, such as a hike to Upper Crystal Lake or a moderate climb up 13,852-foot Crystal Peak, one of the best summits in the area.  

Terrain typical of the Southern Tenmile Range

More lakes

Lower Crystal Lake is just one of a half-dozen or so mountain lakes in the southern Tenmile Range. The next two drainages to the south--Spruce Creek and McCullough Gulch--have multiple lakes that are more scenic and lush than Crystal Creek.  However, all of those lakes require moderate to steep hiking to access.  The trails up the Spruce and McCullough are very popular; paddling the lakes is much less so.  If you're willing to exert some effort to hike up an inflatable SUP, and you're looking to find a uniquely scenic subalpine lake, then the southern Tenmile Range might be a good place to check out.  Review the weather report and hourly forecast before deciding on any of these places since the high mountain terrain is especially susceptible to wind and thunderstorms.  

A recently implemented shuttle system has restricted vehicle parking on the McCullough Gulch road in order to manage the popularity of nearby Quandary Peak.  For those who can recall the days of easy access and parking to the area, this certainly complicates an outing here.  The upside is that if you're vacationing in Breckenridge and car-less, you can paddle on a secluded mountain lake without having to drive anywhere.  Spruce Creek, on the other hand, still accommodates parking albeit limited.  The best advice for visiting this popular area is to start early or go on a weekday.   

Mountain Lake in McCullough Gulch

A few more notes on this area:

Goose Pasture Tarn--which is just east of Highway 9, two miles south of Breckenridge--is privately owned.  Although the facility's website pictures a paddleboarder on the water, this lake is only open to neighborhood property owners.

Maggie Pond in Breckenridge, and Keystone Lake in Keystone are each resort-owned amenities.  Both offer stand-up paddle rentals and can be a good introduction to the activity if you're vacationing in either of the resorts.  

And don't forget, Dillon Reservoir and the Lower Blue River Valley have plenty more great paddle places.  Wherever you go, have fun and play safe!